The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-27

nearly land locked, anu Une coL-iIlollOh Ouu'
side scarcely affected it.
As looked down into the clear, still water
| | thought what jolly place it would be for
a dive and swim, and ing but my total
ignorance OF the natatory art kept me from
stripping off and plunging in. Suddenly my
attention was attracted by slight "hop" on
the water, and looking round | saw big,
bullet looking head appear above the surface.
had never seen one, but | knew at once that
this was seal, having heard that they fire.
quented the Inch ut certain times of the year.
He evidently did not see me, and, breathless
with excitement, stole the rifle to my Shout
der | covered him-but my hand shook so,
was afraid to fire. Taking a long, long
breath, to try and stay the bouncing Of my
heart, l again took aim, pressed the trigger,
and had the satisfaction to see the fish beast
give conclusive spring out of the water, roll
over on its side, and commence splashing and
tumbling about in way that told me it had
got its death wound. Almost mad with joy,
threw the rifle to the ground, and began
clambering down the face of the rocks to
where my prey was now giving its last kick.
managed to get down to the waters edge,
and stretching out, was just able to touch
Oi'~
side, and missed him. | was not to be done,
however, so catching firm hold of tuft OF
sea weed growing out of rock, bent for
ward and made another grab at it, When
whishl and | was in, head firstl How man.
aged it l don't know, but when came to my
senses | found myself clutching rugged
ledge of rock like grim death.
On trying to climb up, what was my con-
sternation to find that the rocks shelved in
under me and afforded no foothold, while the
ledge on which my hands rested was so Shiny
and wet that | could hardly keep my hand on
it, much less raise myself by it. Half stupid
with fright, l could do nothing but yell out
for help for some time, but the only answer
was the hooking screams of the sea gullS as
they whirled over my head and the roar OF
the waves as they dashed against the rocks.
Seeing at length that | was only wasting
the little strength 1 had left, l stopped shout
ing and looked about to see if there was no
way of escape. Except about two feet of
ledge to which held on 1 now saw that on
both sides of me, for several yards, the face
of the rock was perfectly smooth and Shiny
so that had not the slightest chance of being
able to work along, hand over hand, to some
spot where l could get up.
Oh! what would | have given then to be
able to swim then even half dozen strokes,
for what would have been sufficient to bring
me to place where l could easily have as
cended. But it was all no use-there was,
and there should stay, till help came Again
and again 1 shouted-but all to no purpose.
What was my horror to see that an oc-
casional wave now washed in through the
inlet and came surging up TO where l clungl
| remembered it was ebbing when we left
Granton harbor, and that the tide must now
be OH the flow!
My terror gave me fresh strength, and |
gave the most frantic screams for help. 1t
seemed a fearful thing to be drowned by
inches-to watch every wash of the waves go
a little and little higher.
The sea was now dashing in angrily through
the inlet and found it hard to keep my pre-
cariouS hold on the ledge
Higher and higher came each wave surging
up to me, and felt it was but a matter of
moments. l closed my eyes and tried to pray,
but l could think of nothing but my dear,
fond mother, and of her anguish when she
would hear that her only child was gone.
Higher and more angry l felt my hands
relax and was just sinking when suddenly
l felt a good, sound thump on the back. 1t
seemed to revive me, and looking oveH
my shoulder, what was my joy to see
short, stout plank washing up against
me- it had been driven in through the
opening without my noticing it!
To clutch it was the work of an instant, and
the moment got firm hold of it l felt
was safe. Pushing IL before me | struck out,
and managed to propel 1t to a place in the
rocks where | easily got up As soon felt
my feet on firm footing again | fell on my
knees and cried like child. l must have
STAYED there some time, for the first thing
that aroused me was dash of spray over my
head, as if some wave was making a last,
angry snatch at what they had begun to look
OH as their lawful prey. This Weakened me up
to the knowledge that the sooner l was out Of
that the better, and proceeded to climb up
the rocks, a matter of no small difficulty, as
was thoroughly worn out and numbed.
When l crawled back to the camp" I
found the boys over blazing fire, cooking
meat and the fish they had caught
They all gave a cry of establishment as
they looked up and saw my pale, haggard
face and dripping clothes, and commenced a
volley of questions, which l vainly tried to
answer. Ned, however, took in the situation,
and clapping down pannican of ale, with
about an ounce Of black pepper in it, on the
fire, lie quickly had drink ready which,
am sure, ought to have revived any one who
had only been a short time drowned so potent
was it. Thanks to it, the fire and good
dinner, added to boys well known recuper-
alive powers l was soon all right and told
my story.
found that the boys did not intend calling
me till dinner was ready, as they feared they
might spoil MY getting shot. They had no
supposition of anything being wrong, only
thinking that was intrenched in some quiet
spot, waiting for pot shot" at a rabbit.
If had had TO wait for them l fear they
would have found it hard to find me- After
dinner we went to look at the scene of my
adventure. We found it regular seething
caldron, and shuddered as l saw the waves
dashing about madly from side to side against
the rocks, and thought what would have been
my fate if l had been a few minutes more in
the position was in.
There was no sign of the cause of the
adventure, so | suppose it must either
have been washed out to sea OF have
sunk to the bottom. Ned quantity
remarked, when l said, II wish knew the
fate of my seal" "Well, one thing is certain,
he was near putting a seal on your fate"
We got home all right that evening, and
was none the worse for my dip, but the